How many understudies have you seen?

[wickedfanatic34]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 2:36pm

How many understudies have you seen in one show?

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 2:40pm

Two.

The Pajama Game: Kate Chapman was on for Roz Ryan, and Amber Stone was on for Kate.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 2:46pm

The first time I saw Phantom, I had the understudy Phantom, Raoul, and André. :) (And the alternate Christine.)

One time I saw Les Miz, they were so low on swings that a non-swing had to go on as a sailor in Lovely Ladies. A couple years later, I got the understudy Valjean, Cosette, and Thénardier in the same performance

I have yet to see a really crazy combo, though.

Updated On: 2/21/07 at 02:46 PM

[theminutepast]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:41pm

I might have had three understudies at a 3NT Les Mis once. I think it was Valjean, Fantine, and Thenardier.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:46pm

I saw an understudy for Mark, Mimi and SOLoist in RENT. Not one of the best performances of RENT I've seen...

[wickedfanatic34]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:47pm

For Chicago I had understudies for
1)Hunyak
2)Go-To-Hell-Kitty
3)Mary Sunshine
4)Fred Casley

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 3:59pm

Three:

When I saw DRS, John lithgow was out, and I saw Dennis Parlato.

When I saw Sweeney, Donna Lynee was out, and I saw Jessica Wright play Pirelli, and Elisa Winetr play the keyboard and accordian.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 4:03pm

3.5 for Wicked:

Eden Espinosa as Elphaba (Act 2 only), Laura Bell Bundy as Glinda, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, Sean McCourt as the Wizard

[HumATune]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 4:10pm

Well I had a really bizarre combo for Les Miz once. Matthew Teague Miller and Ashley Jarrett were on for Marius and Cosette. That’s fine, but there were a lot of male absences so they were really mixing up the tracks. Matt Clemens was Grantaire (that’s fine). Dave Hugo was the Bishop, and Jean Prouvaire AND Major Domo those were all normally on separate tracks. Stephen Colella played Joly AND Claquesos. Alex Lubliner was Montparnasse and Lesgles for Act 1. Graham Rowat was Foreman/Combeferre for act 1, but an emergency Lesgles for Act 2. Also Matthew Teague Miller sang in his Joly track for the Work Song.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 4:14pm

I tend to go to early previews, so I rarely see understudies. However, the most I've seen in any given performance were 3 or 4 in Mamma Mia two summers ago.

I have an extensive collection of understudy slips (some I've seen, some I've acquired). A friend of mine picked up a Chicago at the flea market last year that included two slips. Needless to say, I would have hated to be in the audience the night....both Bebe and Marilu were out.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 4:48pm

When I worked at the original production of Les Miz on a special holiday matinee (4th of July I think), most if not all of the leads were out (Valjean, Javert, Fantine, etc.). I will say though, that particular show was excellent.

[iwearshoes]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 4:55pm

Rent a few years ago. Every single understudy was on except for the benny and angel. It was an afternoon performance during a holiday week...but it was still crazy. Especially since it was my first time seeing it.

[myManCape]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:29pm

4 at Woman in White (during Maria and Michael's absences)
4 at Phantom

[worrell4077]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:43pm

Jersey Boys-7 understudies
Michael Longoria go on as Frankie Valli
Dominic Nolfi go on as Tommy Devito, twice
John Leone go on as Nick Massi
Donnie Kehr go on as Bob Crewe
Matthew Scott go on as Hal Miller
Matthew Scott go on as Joe Pesci
Matthew Scott go on as Norm Waxman
Heather Ferguson go on as Lorraine

[jg4892]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 6:52pm

In Hairspray, Becky Gulsvig for Amber, Blake Hammond as Wilbur, and someone for a dynamite.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 6:55pm

Wow, Elphaba3, you had three understudy's for all three leads.

[guineamidget87]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 7:54pm

When I saw the Into the Woods revival I saw Linda Mugleston as the Baker's Wife, Melissa Dye as Cinderella, and Alison Walla as Rapunzel.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:04pm

I've seen so many understudies, it's countless, basically. I could start an archive...

For example, out of the 15 Broadway shows I've seen, only 3 have been full cast.

Largest number I can think of off the top of my head is in NY during the December 2003 blizzard...

The Phantom of the Opera - 6
Christine-Kris Koop
Raoul-Jim Weitzer
Confidante/Dresser-Janet Saia
Jeweler/Marksman-Michael Babin
Passarino-Carrington Vilmont (also playing his regular Auctioneer)
And an unlisted swing or ensemble member filled in for Miss Koop's track.

Updated On: 2/21/07 at 09:04 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:15pm

I came across an August, 1999 Playbill from Peter Pan (a friend gave it to me, knowing that I have a collection) yesterday. In reading it, I saw an interesting column about a story I already knew. I think I'll share it for those who don't yet know it.

The column was Stage Directions from the League by Ben Pesner. The title was "At This Performance..."

"It's 1955, during the original Broadway run of The Pajama Game. Carol Haney is ill and can't perform. A film producer in the audience goes wild about the unkown chorine who steps into the role. The substitute's name is Shirley MacLaine. He signs her to a Hollywood contract, and the rest is history."

My point? Save your slips, people. Never know who's gonna make it.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:20pm

I think the most was probably 3, at Chicago. One for Amos, one for Casely, and one for the judge.

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:21pm

Lots. Mout most noteably:
TARZAN OCTOBER 7, 2006
For :
Tarzan
Jane
Terk

DRS SEPTEMBER 27, 2005
Freddy Benson

WICKED SEPTEMBER 27, 2005
Madame Morrible

I think that's it.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 9:23pm

I'll just go from the last few months:

Cassie, Bebe, and Don in A Chorus Line
Jean ValJean in Les Mis (two days after opening, under rehearsed Victor Hawks, just wrote Hugo!, wowed the crowd.
Lady of the Lake in Spamalot

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 10:53pm

I wasn't there, but I do know that one night at THE WOMAN IN WHITE, only 2 of the 7 principal roles were the regular performers. Marian, Fosco, Glyde, Walter, and Fairlie, were all understudies.

That meant Lisa Brescia, Norman Large, Michael Shawn Lewis, and Richard Todd Adams had their tracks covered by swings and other ensemble members because the Fairlie understudy was a swing as well if I remember correctly.

[Lance2]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:24pm

Last year I was in Germany and I saw Beauty and the Beast with a cast made almost entirely out of understudies.

Only Babette, Mrs. Potts and Maurice where the original cast for the rest just understudies for even the smallest ensemble parts. And the most peculiar fact is: It was one of the best shows I saw of Beauty and the Beast...
Updated On: 2/21/07 at 11:24 PM

[BwayFan4]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 11:33pm

I was looking at an old Playbill from when i saw The Mystery of Edwin Drood....Cleo Laine was out that night....the understudy was none other then Donna Murphy